Open burning

Open burning is defined as “any fire where the products of combustion are not conveyed to and disposed of by an approved chimney.” For the purpose of this article we are not discussing household wood heaters, except where noted.

Any open burning must be continuously attended by the permit holder, property owner or a competent person appointed by them for the duration of the fire. It is their legal obligation to tend the fire and to ensure it is extinguished upon completion.

Any fire may be ordered to be extinguished if it is deemed to be a hazard by the Fire Chief or the Duty Officer.

Any costs incurred for extinguishing a fire may be charged to the property owner if costs resulted from carelessness or a disregard of the burning regulations.

Fire Season

Fire season is between April 1st and October 15th, unless dryness forces these dates to be changed. During this period, the Wildfire Hazard Ratings signs, located at the Post Office and on Taylor Bay Road, indicate the fire hazard status. This information is also available on this website, and by calling No. 1 Hall (250-247-9677) for the message line.

Wildfire Hazard Ratings

High: burning permits are no longer issued, but burn barrels and non-permit fires (smaller than 1/2 cubic metre) are still allowed UNLESS A BURNING BAN IS IN PLACE. For more details, see our high wildfire hazard status page.

Early shift: Open burning is not permitted. 1:00 p.m. stopping time for many private and industrial operations, including all powered equipment such as chainsaws, lawnmowers, weed eaters, chippers, etc. For more information, see our high with early shift wildfire hazard status page.

Extreme: continues the ban on all open burning and operation of powered equipment at any time. This level is also accompanied by a SHUTDOWN sign, which indicates that many industrial operations, such as logging, are suspended. Certain operations may be allowed to continue on a site specific basis, depending on the job classification hazard rating as determined by the Ministry of Forests. A watchman is require to remain at the work site for 1 hour after work has stopped as a precaution against fire, and must have quick access to a telephone in case of an emergency. For more information, see our extreme wildfire hazard status page.

Fire Permits

New provincial regulations came into effect on September 15, 2019.

Click here to go to the Province’s Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation web page.

All open burning with fires larger than 1/2 cubic meter require a permit from the GVFD. Please contact the office (250-247-9677) or the duty officer (250-755-9289) for more information.

Incinerators

Incinerators and fires no larger than one cubic metre (1m by 1m by 1m) can be burned all year without a permit, provided no restrictions are in force. They are prohibited when our wildfire hazard rating is high with early shift or extreme.

A 1 metre perimeter of non-combustible material must surround these fires and a a safe distance from combustible growth or objects must be maintained.

A charged hose or 20L pail of water and a shovel must be kept available.

Winds

No fires shall be lit or maintained when there is wind strong enough to cause sparks or other burning materials to land in any combustible material in the vicinity.

Smoke

All fires must be tended so as to minimize the emissions of smoke.

When the burn is completed or the permit expires, the fire must be completely extinguished, with no smoke being emitted.

If the smoke is impacting on neighbours, any burn may be required to be terminated.

Propane-powered burning

Propane and briquette barbecues and hibachis, as well as propane fireplaces, are permitted during all fire rating levels.

Propane fireplaces must not have flames larger than 6″, and extreme care must be taken with all appliances during dry weather.

Charcoal-powered burning

Hibachis and similar charcoal-burning stoves are permitted during all fire rating levels provided they are operated properly/safely.

Burning of wastes from businesses is also prohibited by this provincial legislation. Violations of these rules will be reported to the Ministry of Environment.

Please see the learn section of our website; it has information everyone on Gabriola should read. Content includes fire safety inspections, smoke detectors, address signs, and driveway access on acerage. You’ll also see pages that explain how you can reduce the risk to your house if a wildfire occurs on Gabriola.

Current wildfire hazard rating

A fire ban is in effect on Gabriola Island.

Please help keep our island safe. No fires!

Important Information

New BC Burning Regulations

All open fires larger than 1/2 cubic metre require a permit

Contact us for more information

Next Trustee Meeting

The 2020 Annual General Meeting and all monthly general meetings are postponed until further notice.